Besides being the first skater to ever win medals for China, Lulu was such an expressive skater and for me one of the most original.

Thanks, I very much agree with you. She was faboulous IMO.

She was original, bringing in her programs elements of Asian culture and philosophy. Some of her programs were introspective, meditational ... I don't know how to describe it, but it gave me that sensation. And I love it.

I remember reading about Bezic's being Lulu's choreographer and being very happy about the fact. I have always loved Bezic's work, and I'm sorry I don't hear much about her these days. Interestingly, she also choreographed Tara Lipinski's programs for that Olympics, if I recall correctly, so she was involved in two-thirds of the 1998 podium. (Kwan's silver-medal programs were done by my other favorite Canadian choreographer, Lori Nichol.)

Definitely Chen Lu was one of the delights of the 1990s, and I was very glad she had that magnificent comeback in '98.

I remember seeing Lulu Live back in '94 with COI and she absolutely mesmerized the audience - this on a night when Oksana, Nancy, Yuka and Michelle were also performing.

I wish there were better quality clips of her programs..........

Here is a lovely program from 1996. When I think of Asian skaters it is always Chen-Lu I think of first. Never Midori, Shiz or any of today's wonderful Asian skaters. Maybe it is because Lulu blended aspects of her Chinese heritage so beautifully into her skating.

Thanks for digging up that article! I always knew there was some tension with the Chinese federation and Chen Lu but I never knew the details. She did so much better at those Olympics than that article would have made you expect! It was one of the greatest comebacks ever.

And I agree that Butterfly Lovers was one of the most original programs I've ever seen.

Re Tara, Sandra did choreograph her Rainbow program. I read somewhere that Tara and Sandra e-mailed constantly in the days before the Olympics and Sandra kept making small tweaks to the program, helping Tara "close the artistic gap" with Michelle...

I remember seeing Lulu Live back in '94 with COI and she absolutely mesmorized the audience - this on a night when Oksana, Nancy, Yuka and Michelle were also performing.

I wish there were better quality clips of her programs..........

Here is a lovely program from 1996. When I think of Asian skaters it is always Chen-Lu I think of first. Never Midori, Shiz or any of today's wonderful Asian skaters. Maybe it is because Lulu blended aspects of her Chinese heritage so beautifully into her skating.

When I watch Lulu's 1996 performance I always think wow, how on earth did Michelle Kwan beat THAT? Then I watch Michelle's Salome and I'm blown away. I think Michelle won. She had it all. So did Chen Lu but Michelle's program was just that much more difficult and that has to count for something - especially when the artistry IS there.

Also, I think Michelle's 1996 SP has been sort of forgotten and overshadowed by her own future wonderful programs. But it was amazing. Maybe not quite as mature as Chen's SP but it's pretty hard to find something to criticize about this:

Every time the commentators would harp on about the "young Americans" competing this season I'd think back to 15-year-old Michelle winning her first world title. Her grace and maturity at that age was astonishing. Well, only she could have possibly beaten Chen Lu that year. I miss those days. 1996-1998 are probably my favorite years in figure skating.

p.s. Thanks for the SI story! Rudy Galindo was another great part of 1996. Nice to know that story about the roller coasters.

When I watch Lulu's 1996 performance I always think wow, how on earth did Michelle Kwan beat THAT? Then I watch Michelle's Salome and I'm blown away. I think Michelle won. She had it all. So did Chen Lu but Michelle's program was just that much more difficult and that has to count for something - especially when the artistry IS there.

Also, I think Michelle's 1996 SP has been sort of forgotten and overshadowed by her own future wonderful programs. But it was amazing. Maybe not quite as mature as Chen's SP but it's pretty hard to find something to criticize about this:

Every time the commentators would harp on about the "young Americans" competing this season I'd think back to 15-year-old Michelle winning her first world title. Her grace and maturity at that age was astonishing. Well, only she could have possibly beaten Chen Lu that year. I miss those days. 1996-1998 are probably my favorite years in figure skating.

This happens to me every time - I watch Lulu and think she was the best. Then I watch Michelle and think she was better.